Abstract: The invention is an apparatus for preventing mercury contamination during such processes as removing excess mercury from dental silver amalgam, mulling dental silver amalgam, and loading dental silver amalgam into a dispenser. The apparatus comprises a material permeable by free mercury under pressure and impermeable by dental silver amalgam. One surface of this material is enclosed by a flexible covering impermeable by either free mercury or mercury vapor. One or more voids are provided between the material and the covering for the purpose of retaining any excess mercury squeezed through the cloth. Means for enhancing retention of mercury in the void or voids may be provided.

Abstract: The invention is a disposable syringe comprising a dispensing plunger, a mulling plunger, a mercury storage chamber, an alloy storage chamber, and a passage means between the chambers. Mercury and alloy are prepackaged in their respective chambers during manufacture. Use of the apparatus involves unblocking passage means thus allowing mercury and alloy to combine in a chamber. Mercury and alloy can then be mixed into amalgam by vibrating entire syringe. Mulling plunger compresses amalgam within chamber in which amalgam was mixed. Dispensing plunger then dispenses a portion of mulled amalgam through syringe and out its tip. Amalgam remaining in syringe can then be further mulled by additional compression with mulling plunger.